Plans change

It's been quite a while since I've updated about Kaswyn and Phil.  So lets get this started!

My training with Phil has been terribly inconsistent the last six months.  I attribute this to two things - the cold winter and studying for a test.  

Okay, the winter really wasn't all that bad, but I hate the cold.  It sets off my asthma and if it's 25 degrees or under I really can't breathe well enough to ride.  Also I'm kind of a whiny baby about the cold so if it's really cold I tend to blow it off and just not go out to ride.  

The test I studied for was a certification for work.  I took it in October but I failed it.  I HATE failing at anything, so for six months I studied my butt off, and sometimes studied instead of riding.  I took the test three weeks ago and have been trying to catch up since then.  I should know this coming week if I passed it this time or not.  I sure hope so cause I don't want to have to go through six more months of studying since they only give the test twice a year.  Fingers crossed!

Anyhow, the last three weeks I've been really consistent with riding Phil, and it's been paying off.  Since the weather has been great, the grass pastures are open and he's been getting turnout with Kaswyn for 2 - 3 hours a day.  I think that is really helping by taking some of that nervous energy away, which gives him a chance to concentrate when I ride him.  I'm hoping for a lesson in the next week or two.  

I really feel like he's turned a corner on his training.  I can finally ride him with more authority and less fear that he's going to be a nervous boy.  He seems like he's really getting the idea of being on the bit and moving forward into my hand.  The easier he is to ride, the better my riding is, which makes him easier to ride.  So it's been really good.  

I was going to ride him today, but I dropped an ironing board on my foot.  It's painful and swollen so I decided to stay off of it today and not ride.  It's difficult because of all the success that we've been having lately, but I have to take care of this foot.  Right now I can't even really walk on it, and I'm taking pain meds.  I might even have to take tomorrow off of work, which I don't want to do either.  But I don't have a choice, really.  I know Phil got out today, and will get out tomorrow, so I'm not worried about that.  

Kaswyn's story is more complex, as always.  I'll hit you up with that next time....